Universal pursues digital demand via classics site By Gavin HaycockWed Jan 10, 11:45 AM ET Universal Music, the world’s biggest music company, launched what it billed as the largest online site for classical and jazz music on Wednesday as part of a drive to exploit rising demand for digital downloads. "We expect sales to begin with to be relatively modest, but by the third or fourth quarter of the year to be making a positive contribution to the business," said Mark Wilkinson, a marketing director for Universal’s classics and jazz division. "I think (the market for digital downloads) can only grow, and as the Apple iPod generation grows, they start to discover the classics," he added. Speaking at the launch of the new UK-based classical and jazz download Web site (www.classicsandjazz.co.uk), shortly after a live performance by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, Wilkinson said Universal was tapping into a rich market segment. This was due to the older generation’s relative affluence, depth of knowledge and their growing desire to update sometimes eclectic collections with new recordings or rare releases. "Older collectors are in tune with digital technology," he said. The site currently has more than 100,000 classical and jazz tracks and nearly 8,000 CDs. Universal expects to increase its tracks by 1,500 per month. Downloads on the site start at 79 pence each, in line with the industry norm. The launch of Universal’s new site follows the company’s best year for classical and jazz-related sales, a trend boosted by a globally growing digital download market and retailers’ offering more music direct to customers via the Internet. Universal is owned by French media giant Vivendi. According to industry data collated by Universal, 60 percent of over 50-year-olds are online in the UK and 35 percent of those have access to broadband, but the figure is rising fast. Clare Nash, who heads the classics and jazz unit’s new media business, said the company decided to enter the market after industry research showed digital stores were not providing high enough quality download files and suitable search engines. Universal is supplying music files in a Windows Media Audio format. Universal hopes to export the model across Europe while future initiatives are expected to focus on video offerings, full-length opera and ballet downloads and making full artwork available from album sleeves.

News Corp, NBC plan online video service Thursday, March 22, 2007 21:41 IST NEW YORK: News Corp. and NBC Universal said on Thursday they will jointly launch an online video site this summer, in a move to compete directly with Google’s popular YouTube.  The site will feature full-length television shows, movies and clips, including popular shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and "The Simpsons," and hit films like "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Borat". Yahoo, Microsoft, Time Warner’s AOL and News Corp.’s MySpace will be the site’s initial distribution partners, according to a joint statement from News Corp. and NBC Universal, owned by General Electric Co. and Vivendi.  The free site will include advertising, with Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Cisco Systems Inc. and General Motors among companies that have signed on. "This is a game changer for Internet video," News Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin said in the statement.  We’ll have access to just about the entire US Internet audience at launch. And for the first time, consumers will get what they want — professionally produced video delivered on the sites where they live," he added. Traditional media companies have been rumored for months to be planning some type of joint online video service to reach a new generation of viewers who are as likely to be found in front of computers as television screens. NBC and News Corp. were said to have tried to woo Viacom into the venture.   But Viacom, the owner of MTV Networks and Comedy Central, decided to take the legal route against YouTube, accusing it and Google of "massive intentional copyright infringement" in a billion-dollar lawsuit filed earlier this month.  Viacom said in a statement the new online video venture was a welcome addition to the industry because it will provide a vehicle that respects copyright protection. "The venture supports our view that upholding the rights of content creators is the only logical and legitimate path for the creative and technology communities to come together," Viacom said. When the NBCNews Corp. site launches, it will include full episodes and clips from current TV shows such as "Heroes," "24," "House," "My Name Is Earl," "Friday Night Lights," and "The Tonight Show," as well as shows from the companies’ television libraries.   Films including "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy" will also be available on the site.

Keeping Up With the Steins. A suggestion by Madeleine of a totally disfunctional family planning their sons Bar Mitvah. Definitely worth checking out. Reminds me of Pieces of April, another film I very much enjoyed.

During my first trip to Burning Man over ten years ago, I imagined an art installation that would incorporate my belief that if people wrote down their goals, dreams, wishes, and aspirations, the probability of it happening would be much, much higher. It took me until 2010 to devote the time and energy to design and draft my first Life Cube proposal to the Burning Man Arts Grant committee.  Each successive year, we worked hard on to create and propose what we thought would be fun, engaging, interactive and experiential art, seeking their partial funding and support.  And each year, after a lot of effort, we received an email that started with something like: “…on behalf of Burning Man’s Art Grant Committee, I would like to thank you for applying for an art grant. This year we received the largest number of applications…” and ending with “it was a very tough decision, but unfortunately, we decided not to fund your project.” For three successive years, I overcame my disappointment, and “with a little help from my friends,” came back to Black Rock City to create a Life Cube that was bigger and better and more interactive than the one before. This could only happen with the support of hundreds of volunteers and people who donated to help this dream become reality.  Every year, the project grew in size and scope, rising along with the number of burners who interacted with the Life Cube.  So when we decided to write a proposal for Black Rock Arts Honoraria in 2015, we worked hard to manage expectations — in fact, if you asked me a month ago, I was pretty pessimistic about the process and didn’t expect to hear anything other than “thanks, but…” Imagine my surprise, excitement and exuberance when after five years of trying, we received an email that began with “congratulations!  We are thrilled…” More to come when I finish jumping up and down (smile) Love, skeeter Life Cube Burn at Burning Man in 2013. Photo by Tom Oniel FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/thelifecube TWITTER:  @THELIFECUBE WEB:  http://www.lifecubeproject.com #jackrabbitspeaks #burningman #blackrockcity #burningmanhonorarium #lifecube #lifecubeproject #Burningman #blackrockcityhonorarium #lifecubeproject #brc2015 #burningmanart2015 #BurningManArts #blackrockcity #bm2015 #lifecube

The Life Cube Project is an interactive community art installation created by Scott Cohen (skeeter). The first Life Cube was built at Burning Man in 2011. Since then, the concept has evolved to include opportunities for the community to express themselves, create, and showcase their art. The mission of The Life Cube Project is to get people to write down their goals, wishes, dreams, and aspirations with the belief that there is a better chance of achieving them. www.lifecubeproject.com #art #community #project #fremont #scott #LasVegas #dtlv #cohen #studios #lifecube #downtown #east #BurningMan

Today I took the first steps to start limiting access to Facebook and twitter posts.  I found both to offer to add controls, but the result is less than satisfying.  On Facebook, there is no search of friends to be able to try and change en mass (i.e. If i want to categorize a list of people I went to high school as one group, I have to do it individually. Twitter is even worse.  I elected to make all posts locked or private.  I decided not to cancel or terminate the account.  This does not stop posts from being seen by the people that are currently following me.  My posts today are: Dimestore Scott Cohen decided to hide my tweets as of March 10. LMK if you know a way to allow only certain people to view tweets #twitter #tweets #privacy Dimestore Scott Cohen Decided to limit access to info/posts on Facebook & contemplating no more twitter #privacy #facebook #twitter #socialmedia #profile Dimestore Scott Cohen testing hiding twitter feeds…. Dimestore Scott Cohen @RedTie does this show up on your twitter – test after hiding tweets Dimestore Scott Cohen test 2 Dimestore Scott Cohen #Twitter Issues:I am beginning to question the benefit/functionality of twitter. The inability to control or segment #privacy is a big issue Dimestore Scott Cohen #Twitter Issues:The #failure to provide a decent #search capability is another major problem of the Twitter platform. This is a major defect Dimestore Scott Cohen #Twitter Issues: Last is the breaking of the #Facebook Twitter #Application. Despite delete & reinstall, the app does not work. Dimestore Scott Cohen #Twitter Issues: Add poor customer service experience and I think you have a bad business. #customerservice Dimestore Scott Cohen #Twitter Issues: Despite all, I’m sure some company (Google, Microsoft, Facebook, etc.?) will probably buy it. #Google #Microsoft #facebook Dimestore Scott Cohen #twitter issues: $8-$10 billion valuation? probably the most stupid #acquisition someone will make. #twittersold #twittervalue keywords: twitter facebook social-media privacy http://www.redtie.com red tie media,Twitter:www.twitter.com/dimestoreFacebook:www.facebook.com/scottcohen1LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/scottcohensocial media

Click to see Natasha’s Honor Guard performing at Northeast Region Conference.  I am very proud. Click on this link:  Natasha’s Honor Guard

She left yesterday in the afternoon.  While happy and confident she is well prepared for her next life experience, Madeleine and I miss her tons.  She did email she made it.  No details yet.  And now, we are "empty nesters".  A new chapter in our lives.  Pics of NBC and her bags in photo albums on the side.

Life Cube Project Brings Hopes, Dreams to Downtown

“Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one.” -Albert Einstein BIG NEWS! As many know, I have a goal of bring the Life Cube to cities and creating urban installations. Today we received an email asking us to present next steps and a solid plan that can be executed for an installation in a major US City. I am very excited by this event!  The Life Cube out into the real world?!  (I am not saying that Black Rock City is not “the real world”, but…).  Anyway, this could be the beginning of long journey.  Thanks all for your notes, emails, and calls.  Your support, encouragement, and participation  is awesome and greatly appreciated. skeeter #art #LifeCubeCityInstallations #TheLifeCube #thelifecubeprojectlifecubeproject #ENVISIONTheLifeCube #BM2013 #LifeCubeurbaninstalllations #artatburningman #PlayatotheRealWorld #wishcube #skeeter #blackrockcity #artprojectatburningman #artburningman

OK — If you are, have, or know someone that has a daughter, pass this on. The timing of this commercial and my daughter graduating this weekend, it is perfect. Great job DDB, London. VW congrats on a terrific ad. #VWAd #DDBLon #TVads #dadsampdaughters #televisionads #VW #brilliantads #adweek #adoftheweek #DDB #carads #autoads #advertising

Today was a HUGE day! We blasted past the $15,000 goal AND 500 “likes” on Facebook. We also got more panels for the tapestry wall. All very exciting. Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement. You rock my world. Love, skeeter #thelifecubeprojectlifecubeproject